One of my philosophies is that success is better achieved from building on one's strengths, not from overcoming non-fatal weaknesses.

If I spend effort making myself better at things I don't genetically, physically or otherwise have innate capabilities to do, I may improve myself, but not by as much as if I were to spend the time, energy and money building upon what I am innately good at. Same with wealth creation. Same with companies. Maybe the same with countries.

As we move from the individual to the companies to countries, we get increasingly collectivist in our thinking, so beware. But with that caveat in mind, I present here a list of some relative strengths and weaknesses of the United States—as a giant collective—that stick out in my mind. I'm deliberately leaving cultural and social questions aside, although those are of course relevant to the future of the listed items below. But this list is about strategic, resource, financial, and industrial capabilities.